Switching apparatus



March ll, 1941. H. F. OBERGFELL swI'rcH'ING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1938 FIG. l

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. l1, 1941 2,234,65a swrrcmNo APPARATUS Herbert F. Obergtell, River Forest, lll., assigner to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, v Ill., e corporation of Delaware Application May 27, 1938, Serial No; 210,348

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to switching ap paratus and more particularly to telephone hook or cradle switches of the type adaptedior use in conjunction with a, telephone instrument which is normally supported upon a. supporting element and is adapted to be removed from the supporting element for use. y

switch of the character indicated, when used in conjunction with a telephone instrument of the hand s t type is usually housed within the pedestal forming the supporting element for the hand set and is provided with an operating member com rising a plunger which projects through an opening in the top of the pedestslrand is arranged to ce operated between two positions in response to removal cf the lia-nd set from the supporting pedestal or replacement of the hand set upon the supporting pedestal., Also, in the usuel er rangement, the switch is provided with only tivo operating positions respectively corresponding to the tivo opere-ting positions of the plunger.

it is en object ci the present invention to provide improved switch ci simple construction end arrangement which is operable into any one o1? several operating positions and is provided "with en improv-eci. locking arrangement for restraining' the switc'n s. predetermined cpereting position.,

i .e further object of the invention to provide e switch ci the character described wherein the release ci the locking arrangement is under the control of the switch operating member,

it s still further and more specic object oi the invention to provide an improved* switch adapted for use in conjunction with s 'telephone f instrument which is normally supportedupon but is removable from a supporting element and wherein the operating member of the switch is controlled by removalcf the nstrurnent'ironi its supporting element and is operable inte any one ci? several different operating; positions individu..- ally corresponding to different arrangements of the switch contacts.

In general, the objects as set forth above are attained in accordance with the nresent inven tion by providing e. switch comprising sn opereting member having a plurality of operating positions and a contact controlling member operative in response to operation of the operating member and having a plurality of operating positions in dividuallv corresponding to the operating positions of the operating member, together with lock ing means controlled by the operating member for restraining the contact controlling member in one of its positionsand contacts arranged in different manners when the contact controlling member occupies different ones ci its operating positions, More particularly, the switch opereting member is in the form of a, plunger biased toward one position and movable from the one position through at least one intermediate nosition to s. nnsl position. The circuit controlling element is operative in response to movement ci the omi ating member from its one position to its iinal position and is biased to follow the operating member during a, portion of the return movement thereof from its 'lnel position toward its one position. The locking means is arranged to arrest and restrain the contact controlling member in s position corresponding to au intermediate position or the operating member, means being provided, operative in response to operation oi the operating member from its one position to one of intermediate positions, for cousins the locking means to rclesse tice circuit controlling; inem-a so that it mcy return to its normal position. The nevel features believed to be characteristic ci' the invention are set forth with sarticelarity :in the ecmnded claims. The invention, es to its organization and method ci? operation, together with iurtlier objects sind advantages there-a cf, will understood by rciercnce to the specification teken in connection with the ce eoninsnylng drawing, in which-Figure is s ir' 'Q mentari? cross-mctionei view ci e telephone sus set ci* the hand set type heving omhoviied there in s, switch constructed snel arranged in scoord- With the present invention; 3 and illustrate three' diierent positions oi the switchy shown in Fig., i; Figs. lo, 2c, 3c and is illustrate 'the contact arrsngemen' of the switch corre-a spending, respectively, to the operating positions shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4; and Fis. 4b iss bottom view et the mechanism of the switch illustrcting this mechanism when operated to the position shown in Fig, 4.

Referring new to the drawing, the improved switch briefly described above is illustrated es 'Deing mounted within s. pedcstai or base it of s telephone sunset ci the bend Set type. The pedestci in is providedwitn opstanding lugs or arms, two of which are indicated at H,'\vhich are displaced in the usual manner to provide s credlefor supporting therein the handle portion of the hand set diegrammaticaliy indicated at l2. The contacts and controlling mechanism therefor are car- .riedby e. bracket member i3 which is secured to the top portion H o! the pedestal Hlby a mountingrarrengement comprising spacing members l5 and screws i8. More particularly,l each of the screws i8 extends through openings provided in the bracket I3, the'associat'ed one of the annular spacing members i5 and the top portion of the pedestal l0, and is threaded into a tapped cap Il which forms a rest for the handle of the hand set l2.

The switch comprises an operating member in the form of a plunger it having a, plurality of operating positions illustrated, respectively, in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, oi the drawing, and a contact controlling member compris-ing an element I9 pivotally mounted alt 2d upon two lugs l projecting downward from the bracket member i3. The plunger ld is mounted upon the upper portion it ofthe pedestal lil. More particularly, the plunger I8 is supported within a oupsh-aped member Q having an upper end of reduced cross section extending through and lsnuglyr engaging an opening provided in the -top portion ld of the pedestal lil. A nut 8, threaded onto the reduced portion oi' the member il. serves rigidly to secure this member to the portion ld of the pedestal it. The plunger l@ is provided with a lower portion i8 of reduced cross section which extends through an opening provided in the lower wall oi the member 9. .An enlarged cap lab having a shank threaded into the lower end of the plunger it is provided for restricting the movement of the plunger in an lupward direction and for controlling a locking arrangement associated with the contact controlling member i9, in a manner more fully described subsequently, The plunger is normally biased in an upward direction toward one of its operating positions by a helical spring l surrounding the portion ESB of the plunger and having one end abutting the enlarged portion of the plunger and the other end abutting the lower wall of the member 9.

The contact controlling element l@ includes an arm 22 biased to engage the roundedlower surface of the cap lh and carries two contact actuating rollers 23a and 231 rotatably mounted, respectively, upon pins 2da and 26h rigidly supported upon the element i9. These rollers, which are constructed of insulating material, respectively cooperate with two diierent operating springs of a spring pile comprising the springs 25 to 3,6, inclusive. The springs 25 to 23, inelusive, are mounted upon one leg 3d of a U- shaped supporting bracket 35 rigidly secured to the bracket member l. The springs of this group are insulated from each other by spacing members 36 formed of insulating material, and

are secured to the leg 36 of the bracket piece 35 by screws 3l extending through a, face plate 38 and the alternately spaced insulating memf bers v3S and springs,` and threaded into the leg 3d. A similar arrangement is used for mounting the springs 29 to 33, inclusive, upon theY other leg 39 of the U-shaped bracket piece 35. The springs of the last-mentioned group are insulated from each other by members lll formed of insulating material and are secured to the bracket leg 39 by screws @il extending through a face plate t2 and the alternately spaced springs and insulating members, and threaded into appropriately spaced tapped openings provided in the leg 39. The springs 2l, 30 and 32 of the spring pile comprise the main operating springs and are movable in response to movement of the rollers 23B and 23h carried by the contact controlling member !9. To this end, the springs 2l and ll are formed of relatively heavy resillent stock and are respectively provided with curved end portions 21'* and 30* which respecdecimo ing an element dd pivotally mounted at t5 uponV a bracket piece t6 secured by means of a screw il .to the bracket member i3. The element id is provided with a recess 58 which is adapted to engage the end oi the arm 22 to restrain the contact controlling member l@ in the position shown in Fig. The element d@ is normally biased to move in a counterclockwise direction toward the end of the arm 22 by a spring i9 connected between the lower end of the element de and the left end of the arm 22. This Spring also serves to bias the right end of the arm 22 into engagement with the lower rounded surface of .the cap i6 secured .to the plunger ld. Movemenft of lthe element dd in a counterclockwise direction is limited by a stop comprising an arm El@ forming a part ci the bracket piece to and provided at its lower end with a bent-over projection lying in the path of movement of the element ed.

For the purpose of releasing the loc means just described to .permit the arm 22 .to be moved under the iniuence of the spring d@ back into engagement with the cap 88h carried by the plunger i8, 1there is pivotally mounted at 52 on the element dit a nger 53 which isv normally biased in-to engagement with a bent-over portion 5d of the element dd by means od a. light helical spning 55 having one end secured to the bracket piece d5 and the other end Vsecured to the right end of the finger 53. As best shown in Fig. 4b, Ithe free end of the arm 22 is cu-t away at 22a to permit the armto be moved between its two extreme positions without engaging the nger 53.

With the `operating member or plunger le occupying its normal position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing or, more particularly, with the hand set l2 resting upon its supporting pedestal i@ so that the plunger I8 is depressed to its rst intermediate or normal position, .the contact controlling element le occupies a position such that the contact springs of the spr-ing pile have the arrangement illustrated in Fig. la. It will be observed that, with the contact controlling member in this position, only the springs 32 .and 33 are in engagement. When the hand set is removed from its supporting pedestal it, the spring l forces the plunger i8 upward to its first position so that the elements of the contact controlling mechanism assume the positions ill-ustrated in Fig. 2. More particularly, when the plunger i8 is moved upward, the arm 22 is rotated in a counterclockwiise direction under the influence of the spring t9 and the rollers 23 and 23h are moved to the righ-t over the curved portions 2lEL and 3d respectively, of the springs 2l and 30, so that anew arrangement of the contact springs 'is achieved. It will be observed that the cut away portion 22a of the arm 22 passes by thenger 53 during movement of the arm 22 to the position shown in Fig. 2. During.

vout of engagemenmthe spring 32 is movedinto engagement with v'the spring il, the spring 3l is moved'. into engagement with the spring 22, and the spring 21 ls moved into engagement with the spring 28. v

If, with the elements oi the switch occupying the positions shown in Fig. 2, the plunger lil is depressed by prsing downward thereon, it is moved through its normal or first intermediate position as shown in Fig. 1 and the second intermediate pom-tion as shown in Fig. 4 to its final .position as shown in Fig. 3. During such movement, the contact controlling element i9 is rotated in a clockwise direction against the bias of the spring 49 and the rollers 23'l and 2lb, by riding over the inwardly curved. ends 2l'L and 3U, respectively, oi the springs 2land 30, force the springs 2i and 30 outward so that, at the end of the movement, the contact arrangement' illustrated in Fig. 3a is achieved. More speelfi-a cally, the springs 2l, 36 and 32 are moved out of engagement with .the springs 2d, Z and 2, respectively, and are moved into engagement with the springs 2%, Sil and SS respectively. ufilsio, with the plunger i@ occupying its nal operathig position, the spring ES is forced outwardly into engagement with the springr 25. As .the plunger i8 is moved downward from its first operating position to its nal pition the cap Ilb engages the rounded cam surface provided on the left end of the finger 53, which finger is biased into engagement with the stop 54. Due to the engagement of the cap I8b and the linger 53, the locking element 44 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction to move the linger out of the path or movement of the cap II. When the cap mb I is moved beyond the finger. the element M is snapped into engagement with the right end o1? the arm 22 under the influence of the spring 49 and continues to engage the arm 22 until the final position of the .plunger IB is reached.

If, after the plunger I8 has been depressed lto its lowermost or iinal operating position, it is released, it starts to move upward under the influence ofthe spring 1, and the contact icontrolling member I9, due to the force exerted thereon by the biasing spring I8, follows the movement of .the plunger during a portion of its movement toward its iirst operating position. At this time, the lower portion of the locking element 46 is biased into engagement with the right end of .the arm 22 so that, when the pilingi er is returned to its next to last operating position, the right end of the arm 22 engages or drops into the recess d8 provided in the locking element 44 to hold the contact controlling member in a position, shown in Fig. 4, corresponding to the next to final position of the plunger It while lthe plunger returns to its first operating position. During the return movement of the plunger I8 the upper side ofthe cap lib engages the iinger 53 to cause this nger to be pivoted in a clockwise direction against the bias o! the spring 55 out of the path or movement of the cap. After the cap passes over the iinger 53, the iinger is rotated back into engagement with the projection M 'by the spring 55. With the contact controlling element I! occupying the p0 sition shown in Fig. 4, the contact springs 25 and 26 are disengaged, but otherwise the contact arrangement is the same as shown in Fig. 3a.

Release oi the locking means to permit the contact controlling -member to return 'to its normal position -is eected whenthe hand set I2 is again placed upon its supporting pedestal il. Thus, when the hand set I2 is replaced upon the supporting pedestal Il, the plunger il is forced downward .to its normal or first intermediate position by the weight of the hand set. During the nal movement of the plunger, the cap Il carried thereby engages the rounded end ot the s Y are caused to again assume the positions shown in Fig. la..

While there has been described what at present considered to be the preferred oi ythe invention, it Wil be widerstand t ons modications maf;y te made t it is intended cover the o' all sucia. modifications as Within spirit and Vscope of the invention.

What claimed isf 2 l. A switch comprising, in combination, an op eratlng member having a plurality or operating positions, a contact controlling member operative in response to operation of said operating member and having a plurality of operating pc g sitions individually corresponding to the operating positions of said operating member, asking means operative to restrain said contact controlling member in one ot its operating means responsive to movement of said omi-ating g5 member from one o! its operating positions into a second of its operating positions and baci: toward its one operating position for' operating said locking means,'means responsive to snbseouent movement of. said operating member into a third do of its operating positions for causing' said Eccking means to release said contact oontroling member, means operative to move said contact controlling member into another of its operating positions when said locking means releases said contact controlling member, and contacts sorotrolled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in dioerentmannen: when said contact controlling member occupies different ones of lts operating positions.

2. A switch compnlsing, in combination, an op.. erating member comprising a plunger biased ioward a normal position and depressinie to e plurality od operating positions, a contact o" v trolling member operative in response to opmation of said plunger and having a norma position and a plurality of operating positions individually corresponding to the normal position and the operating positions of said plunger, lock ing means operative to restrain said Contact controlling member in one of its operating positions,. means responsive to movement of said operating member from its normal position into one of its operating piftions and back toward its norma posi-tion for operating said locking means. means responsive to subsequent movement of said plunger from its normal position into a second of its operating positions for causing said locking means to releasevsaid contact controlling member. means operative to move said contact controlling member into another of its operatmg positions when said locking means releases said contact controlling member, and contacts controlled by said 'contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in -diirerent mannen u when said contact coiti'olling-member occupies its normai position and different ones of its operating positions. f

3. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member having three operating positions, a contact controlling member having four operating positions, means responsive to movement of said operating member into one` of its positions for moving said contact controlling element into one of its positions, means responsive to movement of said operating member into a second oi' its positions for moving saidcontact controlling member into a second of its positions, means responsive to movement of said operating member away from its second position for moving said contact controlling member toward its third position, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in its third position, means responsive to movement of said operating member into its third position for causing said locking means to release said contact controlling member, means operative to move said contact controlling member to its fourth position when'said locking means is operated to release said contact controlling member, and contacts associated with said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in diierent manners when said contact controlling member occupiesdiiierent ones of its operating positions.

a. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member having a normal position and operable to a irst ori-normal position, said member being arranged successively to be operated from said first oir-normal position to a second o-normal position and baclr to said rst oinormal position, a contact controlling member having a normal position and two o-normal posltions individually corresponding to the normal and two oli-normal positions or' said operating member, means for causing said contact controlling element to follow the movement of said operating member during operation of said operating member from its second off-normal position toward its irst off-normal position, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in a third ofi-normal position duringsaid last-mentioned movement, means responsive to movement of said operating member from its first oit-normal position for releasing said locking means, means operative to return said contact controlling memberA to its normal position trolling member having a normal position and operable to two different o-normal positions, means responsive to movement of said operating member to its off-normal position for moving said contact controlling member to one of its oftnormal positions, means responsive to subsequent movement oi said operating member away from its ofi-normal position for moving said contact controlling member to its second ofi-normal position, locking means for retaining said contact controlling member in its second o-normal position, means responsive to movement of said operating member to its normal position for releasing said looking means, means yoperative to return said contact controlling member to its normal position when said locking means is resaid operating member, whereby said contact controlling member is provided with a normal position and is moved to an oE-normal position in response to movement of said operating member to its o-normal position, locking means comprising an element provided with a piece adapted to engage said arm when said contact controlling member is moved from its normal position'to its ofi-normal position, thereby to restrain said contact controlling member in its oit-normal position, means responsive to a predetermined subseduent movement of said operating member into its normal position for moving said element to disengage said arm and piece, thereby to release said contact controlling member for return to its normal position, and contacts controlled by said contact controlling member.

7. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member having a normal position and operable to 'an o-normal position, a contact controlling member including an arm,` spring means normallybiasing said arm into engagement with said operating member, whereby said contact controlling member is provided with a normal position and is moved to an o-normal position in response to movement of said operating member to its oli-normal position, locking means comprising an element provided with a piece adapted to engage said arm when said circuit controlling member is'moved to its ofi-normai position, thereby to restrain said contact controlling memberL in its oE-normal position, means comprising a nger carried by said element and adapted to be engaged by said operating member for moving said element to disengage said arm and piece in response to a predetermined subsequent movement of said operating member into its normal position, thereby to release said contact controlling member for return to its normal position, and contacts controlled by Said contact controlling member.

8. 'A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member having a normal position and operable to an ofi-normal position, a pivotally mounted contact controlling member including an arm, spring means normally biasing said arm into engagement with said operating member, whereby said contact controlling member is provided with a normal position and is operable to an oit-normal position in response to movement of said operating member to its ofi-normal position, a pivotally mounted element provided with a piece for engaging Said arm when said contact controlling member is moved to itsoi-normal position, thereby to restrain said contact controiling member in its off-normal position, spring means biasing said element in a direction to bring said arm and said piece into engagement, a finger rotatably mounted on said element and adapted to be engaged by said operating member during movement of said operating mem- 'ber between its normal and o-normal positions,

a lug carried by said element and projecting into the path. or rotation or said-finger, said nger normally being biased into engagement with said 2,234,550 lug and being so arranged that during movementl of said operating member from its off-normal position to its normal position said finger is rotated against its bias out of the path of said operating member and during movement of said operating member toward its oil-normal position said finger engages said lug to causesaid element to move and disengage said arm and said piece, thereby to permit said contact controlling member to return toits normal position, and contacts controlled by said contact controlling element.

9. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member comprising a plunger having a normal position and depressibie to an oir-normal position, spring biasing means for moving said plunger toward its normal position ai'ter it has been depressed to its off-normal position and released, a contact controlling member including an arm, spring means normally biasing said arm into engagement with one end of said plunger, whereby said contact controlling member is provided with a normal position and is operated to an off-normal position in response to movement of said plunger to its olf-normal position, locking means comprising an element provided with a piece adapted to engage said arm when said circuit controlling member is movedfrom its normalposition to its oil-normal position, thereby to restrain said contact controlling member in its ofi-normal position, means responsive to a predetermined subsequent movement of said plunger into its normal position for moving said element to disengage said arm and piece, thereby to release said contact controlling member for return to its normal position, and contacts controlled by said contact controlling member.

10. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member comprising a. plunger having a normal position and depressibie to an ofi-normal position, spring biasing means for moving said plunger toward its normal position after it has been depressed to its off-normal position and released, a contact controlling member including an arm, spring means normally biasing said arm into engagement with one end of said plunger,

whereby said contact controlling member is provided with a normal position and is operated to an off-normal position in response to movement of said plunger to its oil-normal position, locking means comprising an element provided with a piece adapted to engage said arm when said circuit controlling memberis moved to its ofi-normal position, thereby to restrain said contact controlling member, means comprising a finger carried by said element and adapted to be engaged by said one end of said plunger for moving said element to disengage said arm and piece in response to a predetermined subsequent movement of said operating member into its normal position, thereby to release said contact controlling member for return to its normal position, and contacts controlled by said contact controll ling member.

' 11. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member comprising a plunger having a normal position and depressibie to an ofi-normal position, spring means for moving said plunger toward its normal position after it has been depressed to its oil-normal position and released, a contact controlling member including an arm. spring means normally biasing said arm into engagement with one end ofsaid plunger. whereby said contact controlling member is provided with a normal position and is operated toanoif-norlinalpositioninrelmmsetommas-Y ment of said plunger to its oir-normal position, a pivotally mounted element provided with a piece for engaging said arm when said contact controlling member is moved to its off-normal position, thereby to restrain said contact controlling member in its oil-normal position, spring means biasing said element in a direction to bring said arm and said piece into engagement, a nger rotatably mounted on said element and adapted to be engaged by said plunger during movement of said plunger between its normal and oil-normal positions, a lug carried by said element and projecting into the path of rotation of said finger, said finger normally being biased into engagement with said lug and being so arranged that during movement of said plunger from its oinormal position to its normal position said finger is rotated against its bias out of the path of said plunger and during movement of said plunger toward its off-normal position said finger engages said lug to cause said element to move and disengage said arm and said piece, thereby to permit said contact controlling member to return to its normal position, and contacts controlled by said contact controlling member.

12. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member biased toward one position and operable against its bias from its one position through an intermediate position to a final position, a contact controlling member operative in response to movement of said operating member from its one position to its final position and biased to follow said operating member during a portion of the return movement of said operating member from its final position toward its one position, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in a position corresponding to the intermediate position or said operating member during the return movement of said operating member, means responsive to a succeeding operation yof said operating member from its one position into its intermediate position for causing said locking means to release said contact controlling member, and a plurality oi.' contacts controlled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in different manners when said operating member occupies ditlerent ones of its positions.

13. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member biased toward one position and operable against its bias from its one vposition through an intermediate position to a finalposition, a contact controlling member operative in response to movement of said operating member from its one position to its final position and biased to follow said operating member during a portion of the return movement of'said operating member from its final position toward its one position, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in a position corresponding to the-intermediate position of said operating member during the return movement of said operating member, means responsive to a succeeding operation of said operatingmember from its one position into its intermediate position for causing said locking means to release said contact controlling member, 'and a plurality of contacts controlled by said contact controlling member, said'contacts being arranged in different manners when said operating member occupies different 'ones of its positions, one pair of said contacta being operated into engagement only when said operating member occupies its final position. A

14. A switch comprising, iii-combination, an

operating member biased toward one position and operable against its bias from its one position through intermediate position to a iinal position, a contact; controlling member operative in response to movement of said operating member from its one position to its ilnal position and biased to follow said operating member during a portion of the return movement of said operating member from its nal position toward its one position, locking means for restraining said circuit controlling member in a position corresponding to the intermediate position of said operating member, means responsive to a succeeding operation of said operating member from its one position into its intermediate position for causing said locking means to release said circuit controlling member, and a plurality of contacts controlled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in diierent manners when said operating member occupies dierent ones of its positions.

15. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member biased toward one position and operable against its bias from its one position through an intermediate position to a iinal position, a contact controlling member operative in response to movement of said operating member from its one position to its nal position and biased to follow said operating member during a portion oi the return movement of said operating member from its iinai position toward its one position, locking 4means for restraining said circuit controlling member in a msition corresponding to the intermediate position of said operatingmember, means responsive to a succeeding operation of said operating member from its one position into its intermediate position for causing said locking m to release said circuit controlling member, and a plurality of contacts controlled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in different manners when said operating member occupies dierent ones of its positions, one pair of said contacts being operated into engagement only when said operating member occupies its final position.

16. A switch comprising, in combination. an operating member comprising a plunger biased toward one position and depressible against its bias from its one position through an intermediate position to a nal position, a contact controlling member including an arm biased to engage one end of said plunger so that said contact controlling member is operative in response to movement of said plunger from its one position to its iinal position and follows said plunger during a portion of the return movement of said plurality of contacts controlled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in diil'erent manners when said plunger occupies different ones of its positions.

17. A switch comprising, in combination, an operating member comprising a plunger biased toward one position and depressible against its bias from its one position through an intermediate position to a final position, a contact controlling member including an arm biased to engage one end of said plunger so that said contact controlling member is operative in response to movement oi' said plunger from its one position to its ilnal position and follows said plunger during a portion of the return movement of said yplunger from its final position to its one position, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in a position corresponding to the intermediate position .of said plunger during the return movement of said plunger, means responsive to a succeeding operation of said plunger from its one position into its intermediate position for causing said locking means to release said circuit controlling member, and a plurality of contacts controlled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in dierent manners when said plunger occupies diierent ones of its positions, one pair oi said contacts being operated into engagement only when said operating member occupies its nal position.

i8. In a telephone hook or cradle switch adapted for use in conjunction with a telephone instrument which is normally supported upon a supporting element and is adapted to be removed from the supporting element for use; the combination comprising an operating member having a plurality ci operating positions, said operating member being operative from one of its positions to another in response to the removal of the instrument from the supporting element and operative from said other position to said one position in response to replacement of the instrument on4 the supporting element, a contact controlling member orative in response to operation of said operating member and having a plurality of operating positions individually corresponding to the operating positions of said operating member, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in one of its positions, means for setting said locking means, means responsive to movement of said operating member into a predetermined one of its positions for tripping said locking means to release said contact controlling member, means operative to move said contact controlling member into another of its positions when said locking means is tripped to release said contact controlling member, and contscts controlled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in diierent manners when said contact controlling member occupies different ones oi' its operating positions.

19. In a telephone hook or cradle switch adapted for use in conjunction with a telephone instrument which is normally supported upon a supporting element and is adapted to be removed from the supporting element for use: the combination comprising an operating member biased toward one position and operable against its bias through an intermediateposition to a ilnal position. said operating member being operative from its intermediate position to its one position in response to removal of the instrument from thesupporting element and being operative from its one position to its intermediatev position in response to replacement oi the instrument on the supporting element, said operating member being manually operative to its nal posltion., a contact controlling member operative in response to movement of said operating member from its one position to its nal position and biased to iollow said operating member during a portion of the return movement of said operating member from its iinal position toward its geo one position, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in a position corresponding to the intermediate position of said operating member during the return movement of said operating member, meansresponsive to a succeeding operation of said operating member from its one position into its intermediate ,position for causing said locking means to release said circuit controlling member, and a piurality of contacts controlled by said contact controlling member, said contacts being arranged in different manners when said operating member occupies different ones of its positions.

20. In a telephone hook or cradle switch adapted for use in conjunction with a telephone instrument which is normally supported upon a supporting element and is adapted to be removed from the supporting element for use; the combination comprising an operating member biased toward a first position and'operable against its bias through an intermediate position to a final position, said operating member being operative from said intermediate position to said first p0- sition in response to removal of the instrument from the supporting element and being operative from said first position to said intermediate position in response to replacement of the instrument upon the supporting element, said operating member being manually operative to said nal position, a contact controlling member operative in response to operation of said operating member and having a plurality of voperating positions, locking means for restraining said contact controlling member in one of its positions, means responsive to operation oi said operating member to said iinal position for setting said locking means, means responsive to replacement of the instrument on the supporting element for tripping said locking means to release said contact controlling member, means for moving said contact controlling member from said one position to another of its positions when said locking means is tripped to release said contact controlling member, and contacts controlled by said contact controlling member.v

HERBERT F. OBERGFEIL. 

